Home of Eagles Legend Vince Papale
In 1976 the USA was celebrating its bi-centennial birthday. It was a time when Philadelphia fans were buried in 11 years of defeat, when Americans were battling the lingering effects of Watergate, the Vietnam War, and a sweeping energy crisis. Ordinary people appeared badly in need of a champion from their ranks, and a local schoolteacher/coach named Vince Papale answered their call. The Philadelphia Eagles hired a passionate and idealistic rookie Head Coach, Dick Vermeil, who boldly announced that he wanted to shake up his new team and publicized that he is going to conduct an open tryout for all comers. Ignoring all of the nay sayers and doubters Vince not only attended the try out he was offered a contract and he got the sweet and ultimate last laugh by making the team.
Re-inventing himself from a 30 year old school teacher working on his master’s degree, to an NFL star, Vince Papale defied the million to one odds against him. Not only did he make the team, even though he had no college football experience, he was voted by his teammates captain of the special teams and most recently was selected by the fans as the best Special Teamer in the Eagles 75 year history. He has also received numerous awards around the country for his charitable contributions and efforts including the coveted Vince Lombardi Award for Courage for overcoming his dance with colon cancer.
Vince is the subject of the blockbuster Disney movie, Invincible, which topped the charts for 2 straight weeks after its release 3 years ago. Now, in today’s fragile economic times, he continues to respond to the need for a motivating hero who knows what it’s like to battle and overcome adversity.